While we bethink a means to break it off. Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.

K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll suc

cour thee.

Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise;

For this is he, that moves both wind and tide.
War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion,
My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend,
I come, in kindness, and unfeigned love,-
First, to do greetings to thy royal person;
And, then, to crave a league of amity;
And, lastly, to confirm that amity
With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England's king in lawful marriage.

Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.

War. And, gracious madam, [To BONA.] in our king's behalf,

I am commanded, with your leave and favour,
Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue
To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;
Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears,
Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue.
Q. Mar. King Lewis, and lady Bona,-
hear me speak,

Before you answer Warwick. His demand
Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest
But from deceit, bred by necessity;
[love,
For how can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
To prove him tyrant, this reason may suffice,-
That Henry liveth still: but were he dead,
Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's
[marriage
Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour:
For though usurpers sway the rule a while,
Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth
wrongs.

son.

War. Injurious Margaret!

Prince. And why not queen?

War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; And thou no more art prince, than she is queen.

Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the fourth, Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; And, after that wise prince, Henry the fifth, Who by his prowess conquered all France; From these our Henry lineally descends. War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,

You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost All that which Henry the fifth had gotten? Methinks, these peers of France should smile

Of threescore and two years; a silly time To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege, Whom thou obey'd'st thirty and six years, And not bewray thy treason with a blush War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.

Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious doom

My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death? and more than so, my
father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
War. And I the house of York.
K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward,

and Oxford,
Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside.
While I use further conference with Warwick.
Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's

words bewitch him not!

[Retiring with the PRINCE and OXFORD.

K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,

Is Edward your true king? for I were loath, To link with him that were not lawful chosen. War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.

K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye?

War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. K. Lew. Then further, all dissembling set

aside,

Tell me for truth the measure of his love Unto our sister Bona.

War. Such it seems,

As may beseem a monarch like himself.
Myself have often heard him say, and swear, -
That this his love was an eternal plant;
Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's
sun;
Exempt from envy,* ,* but not from disdain,
Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine:[day, Yet I confess, [To WAR.] that often ere this When I have heard your king's desert recounted,

Mine ear hath tempted judgement to desire. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus, -Our sister shall be Edward's;

And now forthwith shall articles be drawn
Touching the jointure that your king must
make,
Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:-
Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a wit-

But if your title to the crown be weak,-
As may appear by Edward's good success,-
Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd
From giving aid, which late I promised.

Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand,
That your estate requires, and mine can yield.
War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his

ease;

Where having nothing, nothing he can lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam queen, -
You have a father able to maintain you;
And better 'twere, you troubled him than
France.

Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless
Warwick, peace;

Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings!
I will not hence, till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold
Thy sly conveyance, and thy lord's false love;
For both of you are birds of self-same feather.
[A Horn sounded within.
K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us,
or thee.

K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey?

And now, to sooth your forgery and his, Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? Is this the alliance that he seeks with France? Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before: This proveth Edward's love, and Warwick's honesty.

War. King Lewis, I here protest, -in sight of heaven,

And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,-
That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's;
No more my king, for he dishonours me;
But most himself, if he could see his shame.
Did I forget, that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?
Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right;
And am I guerdon'dt at the last with shame?
Shame on himself! for my desert is honour.
And, to repair my honour lost for him,
I here renounce him, and return to Henry:
My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
And henceforth I am thy true servitor;
I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.

Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love;

And I forgive and quite forget old faults,

War. And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours. K. Lew. And mine, with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd, You shall have aid.

Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return in post;

And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,-
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride:
Thou seest what's past, go fear* thy king
withal.

Bona. Tell him, In hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. Q. Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are laid aside,

And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me, That he hath done

And, as occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt ;What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

War. This shall assure my constant loyal

ty:That if our queen and this young prince agree, I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy, To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion:

Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, Therefore delay not, give thy hand to War

wick;

And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine. Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well de

serves it;

And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. [He gives his hand to WARWICK.

K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied,

And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral, Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.

* Fright.

I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance, For mocking marriage with a dame of France. [Exeunt all but WARWICK.

War. I came from Edward as ambassador, But I return his sworn and mortal foe: Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me, But dreadful war shall answer his demand. Had he none else to make a stale, but me? Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown, And I'll be chief to bring him down again: Not that I pity Henry's misery, But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

SCENE I.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MON

TAGUE, and others.

Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth [marriage. 'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself? Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with France.

Hast. Tis better using France, than trusting
France:

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies.
Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well
deserves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.
K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will,
and grant;

think you

Of this new marriage with the lady Grey? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

France;

Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to How could he stay till Warwick made return? Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.

Flourish. Enter King Edward, attended; Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others.

Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. K. Edw. Now brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malecontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of Warwick; [ment, Which are so weak of courage, and in judge. That they'll take no offence at our abuse. K. Edw. Suppose, they take offence without [ward, They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am EdYour king and Warwick's, and must have my Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king:

a cause,

will.

Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

Glo. Not I:

[ver'd No; God forbid, that I should wish them seWhom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere pity, To sunder them that yoke so well together.

K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike aside,

Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey

Should not become my wife, and England's

queen :And you too, Somerset, and Montague, Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion, that king

Lewis

Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in

charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick

be appeas'd,

By such invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in

such alliance.

* A stalking horse, a pretence.

Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath done well, To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales Unto the brother of your loving bride; She better would have fitted me, or Clarence: But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heirt

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son, And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee Clar. In choosing for yourself you show'd

your judgement;

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And, to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.
K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be
king,
And not be tied unto his brother's will.
Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleas'd his ma-
To raise my state to title of a queen,
[jesty
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,
And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sor-

row.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns: What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee, So long as Edward is thy constant friend, And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?

Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too, Unless they seek for hatred at my hands: Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe, And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath. Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the [Aside.